Our correspondent
PATNA: The Bihar government on Tuesday declared 28 out of 38 districts as drought-hit in the state.
The Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar said that the situation in the remaining ten districts would be constantly monitored. He said that government forced to take decision following the acute shortfall in rain.
With the implementation of the State cabinet decision, the provisions for relief, under Calamity Relief Fund (CRF), State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), National Calamity Contingent Fund (NCCF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will come into force in these districts with immediate effect.
The recovery of cooperative loans, land rent, irrigation taxes and electricity bills from the farmers have been suspended with immediate effect in the drought hit districts. A relief mission will be launched in the affected districts to save crops.
Efforts will also be made to make provision for alternative crops. The government has decided to extend monetary assistance to farmers and unemployed agricultural labourers from the State Calamity Relief Fund.
Besides, the government will also provide power in the affected districts for five to six hours per day on a priority basis to irrigate their parched fields and to create jobs under MNREGA to prevent exodus of work force.
